The all-time biggest 3D movie, “Avatar,” which was released only three weeks ago, and “The Polar Express,” which many credit for the resurgence of 3D, have been declared the two movies that made the biggest impact on 3D in the past decade.
And the debut of ESPN HD in March 2003 and Blu-ray Disc in June 2006 had the greatest impact on HiDef in the last ten years.
As for 2009, an informal survey of entertainment industry professionals, journalists, and consumers by this website determined that the Most Dynamic Blu-ray Disc in 2009 was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”; the Best HiDef program on TV was “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” on PBS; the Best 3D Experience in theaters was the IMAX documentary “Under the Sea” (“Avatar” was named Best Overall Theatrical 3D Film, scripted), and the Best 3D Experience on Blu-ray Disc was “Coraline.” (See complete list of 3D, HiDef, and Blu-ray under Awards tab.)
“We enjoyed an unprecedented number of high quality HiDef and 3D programs and movies on TV, in theaters, and on Blu-ray in 2009,” said Scott Hettrick, owner/editor of 3DHollywood.net/HollywoodInHiDef.com, adding, “There will be significantly more of everything in 2010, including stereoscopic videogames.”
After “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” debut in HiDef on Comedy Central Monday and “Final Destination 3D” hits Blu-ray on Tuesday, there will be a flurry of HiDef/3D/Blu-ray announcements starting Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Sony and FIFA have already recently announced plans to broadcast the 2010 World Cup in 3D starting this June, and an announcement is expected Wednesday that DirecTV will launch three 3D channels later this year.
Among the slate of high-profile 3D movies coming to theaters this year: “Alice in Wonderland,” starring Johnny Depp in March, “Shrek Forever After” in May, “Toy Story 3D” in June; and “Tron Legacy” next Christmas.
Even before the floodgates of titles in the new Blu-ray 3D format open, Blu-ray owners already expect to soon enjoy full HiDef versions of everything from Michael Jackson’s “This is It” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and “Avatar.”